There was one particular thing about the camp in Bozeman - I had overheard the brief story of the man in the site next to mine. When I had arrived at the camp initially, the site next to mine was already set up, and claimed with a black & white Oakland Raiders flag. Perhaps unfairly, I began collecting small judgments. The man on appearance was white, tanned, and weathered, his arms spotted with faded ink. I was in my car enjoying the Montana sunset when I overheard a German couple introduce themselves to my temporary neighbor. The overseas tourists were on a family vacation, passing through the number of national parks and sites on the Pacific Crest. His story was much different.
He was a construction worker, originally from California. He got a call for long-term work to be done in Bozeman, and took up the offer. He set up an apartment in the area and began his seemingly immediate transplant to Montana. On the way, his 1998 Ford Ranger broke down and he had to use all his available cash to fix his truck. Finally arriving in Bozeman and adding insult to injury, the apartment he could no longer afford flipped on him, leaving him in a new state with no place to fall on. Perhaps by fortune, he brought his camping gear with him, and is now using the campground as a temporary living situation. Though undertones of sadness and despair escorted his tale, the man was lifted with a spirit of endurance. He talked highly of the opportunity to work, build, and create. He was not a product of failures, but a chaser of opportunity. I admired his resolve.
I found breakfast on the way to Big Springs, Idaho, my final destination for the day. I took this opportunity to really think about how technology changed my experience on vacation. I had no plan, and basically followed the compass as I recalled seeing it on the map. After leaving Mendocino, I simply had locations, and assumed there would be a road to get to each one. I could also land in a place last minute, and find the best food in town the next morning. I had a pretty great experience before leaving Montana for good.
The best reviews went to Storm Castle Cafe for breakfast, so I sat at the first stool in this picture. I sat next to a gentleman who, I found out in time, was waiting for a to-go order. What was super interesting was he had two phones, actively using both. I was so curious! I caught a glimpse of his iPhone 5, his left thumb pushing out a note to a female receiver. The synopsis of viewable messages was that she was getting this to-go breakfast in bed. Good for her. But, I was really curious to know why the right hand was multitasking on an android device. Imagine needing 2 phones!? What was the reason? And how cumbersome! I got a Poncho & Lefty, this incredible crisp tortilla chorizo breakfast plate, completely forgot about shady 2-phone guy, and went on my way.
Driving through Montana was, again, like nothing I'd seen previous. The road was set into modest valleys that would sometimes open up to rolling hills. All the while, the sky was a bright blue with some cotton ball clouds lightly spotting the view.
On my route to Big Springs, I passed through West Yellowstone, effectively the entrance to the park. when I planned for the outskirts of the park, I didn't intend to go 45 minutes away; I experienced some features that eventually made this reality worthwhile. The drive-up campground was about 4 miles off the main drag. Fortunately, at the intersection of the highway and the camp turn-off was a riverside tourist settlement, complete with a country store, pizza joint, and a plethora of people. They were all crowded around the river's edge, on either side of the state highway bridge. Driving south over the river, I saw the water currents taking people down to the crowds - people were floating! After a long morning of driving, nothing sounded like a better plan than to take a few cold ones out on an inner tube and enjoy the sun.
Of course, the country store owner claimed that luck struck when he found a few inner tubes in stock. I happily overpaid for my camo-green float and took to camp. I found a site, paid a visit and fee to the hosts, and set up for the next two nights. My short term plan was to spend 2 nights in Yellowstone via Big Springs, then another 2 nights in Grand Teton, before finally beginning the trek back east... back home. That was weird to think about! I think I grew acclimated enough to road-living that my basic needs were being met pretty sustainably, and the sense of adventure was luring me from the memories of home. Of course, my bed was on the east coast, which has it's own appeal.
I set up a tent & a hammock and lazed for a few moments. Then, I packed what I needed and took a trip back down to the water's edge. I parked where I would land with the current, which was convenient to the road. I packed up a pair of cold pilsners, my mint-condition inner tube, and made my way across the bridge and up the river. I found the river's edge, and permitted the next 45 minutes to take me down the current's gentle flow. No pictures here, for fear of getting them wet! You'll just have to take my word for it. I had a great afternoon, and no sunburn!
Sun was falling, and it was an early rise (Rule #1 of National Parks). I headed back, lit up a fire, put down some burgers and whiskey, and called it a night in Idaho.
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